THE SNP have called for an investigation into Speaker Lindsay Hoyle’s decision to break convention during a debate on a Gaza ceasefire - reportedly due to pressure from Labour leader Keir Starmer.
On Wednesday, Westminster descended into chaos as Hoyle allowed a debate on a Labour amendment to an SNP opposition-day motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
This meant that the SNP motion was not voted on, and Hoyle is now facing calls for him to resign over the incident.
READ MORE: Inside the Westminster chaos amid the SNP ceasefire vote
And now, SNP chief whip Owen Thompson told The National’s Holyrood Weekly podcast that there “needs to be an investigation” into how Hoyle came to his decision and that he is set to call for one during Business Questions in the Commons on Thursday afternoon.
The Midlothian MP raised concerns about reports that Hoyle had been “bullied and intimidated” into making the decision by Starmer.
“There clearly needs to be an investigation into exactly what went on there and how this advice happened,” Thompson said.
“I know from the meetings I was having on Tuesday that the Clerks were giving me the same advice.
“I had meetings with the Speaker on Wednesday twice, on the morning where he said that he hadn't made up his mind yet, but he was considering all the options and we outlined all these possibilities of what could happen.
“I said I need a guarantee that the words of my motion will be voted on and was given a direct assurance that we would have a vote on the words of our motion, and that obviously didn’t happen.”
He added that during Business Questions he was set to ask Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt what she was going to do to look into the incident and urge for an investigation to take place.
“Because if there's allegations like this against a Member of Parliament, it gets looked into,” Thompson added.
“It should be exactly the same, there should be no dispensation for the Speaker in that.
READ MORE: AS IT HAPPENED: MPs vote on Gaza ceasefire in SNP-led debate
“I'm also going to ask what the Leader’s going to do to protect members of the House, regardless of their position, from any efforts to bully or intimidate them to take your position and don't necessarily want to take.”
During Business Questions, Thompson asked for the SNP to be given an extra chance to debate topics of its choosing, and urged Mordaunt to investigate reports Hoyle had been influenced in his decisions ahead of the Gaza debate.
He added: "I think it is critical that all Members of this place, whatever their position or status are protected from bullying and intimidation.
"I think it is entirely unacceptable if reports are to be believed, that there is reporting across many media outlets, that there was significant pressure put on Mr Speaker to come to his decision yesterday.”
Conservative MPs could be heard shouting “stop bullying him” at the Labour benches as Thompson asked: “Could I ask the leader of the House what steps she is going to take to investigate these very serious claims? Because if there is anything of substance to these, that is an affront to any democracy where a party leader can direct decisions of the chair of this place.”
In response, Mordaunt said Hoyle had come to the House and apologised.
"I know he's meeting with all parties on this matter and I will be meeting with him later today," she added.
We told how scores of MPs have signed a no confidence motion in Hoyle as the Speaker.
He is now fighting to keep his job after scenes on Wednesday that were described as “British politics at its lowest” by the Palestinian ambassador to the UK.
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